The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-12-28

have every person as near his or her work a:
possible Out Of the appropriations for the
| chapel building and the necessary additions
thereto S12,044.80 have thus far been ex
pended; on the laundry S4,9O6.S7 and on the
engine room S2,2S1.33. None Of these are
fully completed, but Messrs. Foster &
Son of Waterville under the direction of the
building committee and the architect, Mr.
Coombs of Lewiston, are carrying the work
along satisfactorily.
| In addition to all this there has been a
| great amount Of work accomplished in the
| way Of needed repairs by the institution.
S2l "a having been expended In this line,
| besides S879.55 put into the chapel building,
and S682 20 into the laundry. These repairs
i have been in the way Of improving the
| ventilation, rebuilding the bath rooms and
| dining halls in the old building, where every
/ thing has been thoroughly attended to. The
| Williams system OF steam heating has been
| introduced at considerable expense, but all
| to be brought back, as it Is saving at least
| twelve per cent Of the coal When one stops
| to think that here are between five and six
| hundred people confined for the long winter,
| many being unable 10 get out even Tor q
| ride, the necessity for extra attention to
| ventilation and sanitary measures will be
| realized especially when IL Is known that all
| these are persons unable TO take care Of
| themselves. When DIR. SanbOrn, the present
efficient superintendent, took the position it
was with the firm determination that every
| thing possible looking in these directions
should be attended to. Believing as he did
| that pure air is essential for health, this
work has engaged his closest attention all
| these years, and the results are proving the
wisdom Of his course. The underground
| pipes have all been covered, a system Of
drainage perfected, and ventilation secured
so that now there Is a current Of pure air
passing under the entire set of buildings,
while all about is dry and healthy as could
be desired.
Unused chimneys have been opened for
the ventilation of the wards, new ones built
to secure that indirect radiation and yenti-
lati0n so necessary.
The controllable Carman and Thompson
radiators are being put In, and the sanitary
condition Of this Institution Is now cOmpar-
atively satisfactory. As the natural result
the death rate has this year been remarkably
small and the per cent. OF cures and those
greatly improved correspondingly large. We
find that 70 have been sent home fully reeov-
cred; 81 greatly improved, and a much
larger number showing marked signs OF i'm
provement. while the total number of deaths
has been but "a. Considering that so large
per cent. OF the cases of insanity is produced
by physical disease and infrmity this Is an
exceptionally low rate, and speaks volumes
for the restorative qualities Of the institu-
tion, the medical treatment OF the officers,
and the uniform kind treatment Of attend
ants.
The greatest number at the Hospital any
one day this year was 556 the smallest 527 /;
the average for the year being 543. OF these
Portland has furnished Is, Augusta l6, Lew
iston six. Togus eight, Rockland five, Ban
gor six. We find that Of the admissions this
year 43 were housewives, 16 h0usekeepers,
81 lab0rers, 81 farmers, and 10 mill Oper-
atives, the remainder being scattered
through all various callings and occupations
known.
From all sources the total cash receipts of
the year amount to S124, ,3O2.O5 disburse-
ments S12S, ,3l9.5i; net increase in available
assets, which are the stock on hand, OF all
kinds, at actual values, S1754.0l; net in
are made up Of the furniture, carriages, and
tools and implements In all departments.
The net available surplus above all liabtl-
tiles Is S12, ,969.18.
There has been falling off in the farm
account this year caused by the almost to tai
failure of the potato crop. The garden of
fourteen acres shows a net profit Of S1400.54.
The productions being as follows 104 pounds
blackberries, 291 Of currants. $40 OF raspber-
ries, 497 Of rhubarb, and 1102 Of strawber-
ries. OF apples there were 4l0 bushels gratis
and 120 Of cider, or native fruit. 1856 pounds
OF asparagus were cut, 107 bushels OF green
beans, AZ Of yellow eyes, II, 900 pounds table
beets, 1880 Of inangelo, 10,325 of cabbage,
1900 carrots, 70 beads Of caulifiower, 1900 Of
celery. 24,400 ears Of sweet corn, 1883
cucumbers for picking. 5,124 head lettuce,
265 bushels onions, 112 Of peas, 32I Of pota-
toes, 5000 pounds parsnips, 10,375 of squash,
20, ,544 table turnips, AGO cattle turnips, 1885
pounds tomatoes, and two acres OF fodder
corn.
From the farm there was gathered 225 tons
Of hay, 10 Of straw, $50 bushels oats, 200 OF
potatoes, p acres Of corn fodder and 6l,621
quarts of milk.
The large greenhouses, one 1O0x25, and an
annex 12x 80 Is under the charge Of the gar
diner, w. III. Allen, and when we consider
that, with all the lawn decorating. and train
ing, the Furnishings of -tsonty-hse 90 sLllEey
hrn - m ha hal lie aah Hnrf
ment falls short only S7.42 Of being self sup
porting for the year, we realize what efficient
work and thorough care will do. This nee
essary feature has been growing rapidly un-
der Mr.. Aliens care, and the plants and
flowers constantly being sent into the halls
relieve many weary hour and brighten
many life.
The hog department yields net profit of
S1,192.65 for the year. Special attention is
here given to the breeding of large heavy
Chesters, which are in constant demand all
over the State.
In noticing the profit from the garden it
should not be forgotten that every load Of
manure used there Is charged, and the farm
account credited wiCh the same.
These results have been made possible
only by system OF accounts that deal with
the items Of each department These are in
charge Of the systematic clerk and book
keeper, M. S. Campbell. who has filled the
trying position Tor several years. lie carries
goods, groceries, farm, garden, greenhouse.
coal. gas, hogs, dispensary and hospital fur
nishings. Everything received and delivered
to either Is charged and must be accounted
for by the party in charge Thus at the end
Of the year 1t can easily be determined what
departments are paying profit and what are
carried at loss. There is no opportunity
for serious mistakes and errors to enter In,
and good illustration Is here afforded Of
the value of systematic work Every cents
worth uanCf ha accounted fOr SOmQW here nv
somebody. The services OF such man Is
valuable to the State. Even the waste bones
from the kitchen and meat shop are saved,
hauled to the mill, and when finely ground
returned to be used as fertilizer on the farm,
and especially on the garden.
Knowing something OF the practical work.
ings OF this institution, after an aequalnt-
ance OF many years, We hazard nothing IN
saying that there cannot be found another
where, in every way, the interests Of the
the State and the patients are more carefully
looked after, where the closest scrutiny Is
given to every item of cost, and still nothing
possible left undone that will add to the
health and comfort of the poor unfortunates
living there. The steward and treasurer
John w. Chase, is one who has had years OF
experience in trade and is thoroughly pre-
pared for his work. The same can be said
Of all the officers. The public cannot know
Of the weight of care and responsibility rest
ing on each, or the amount of study given to
each individual case.
The entire corps Of officers are:
superintendent-Dr. B. T. sanborn.
Asslstants-Drs. III. b. Hill, o. @. 5. Dawes and
Mary @. Lowell
Treasurer and Steward-John w. Chase.
Clerk-M s. Campbell.
Assistant-Geo. Keene.
Grocery Clerk-C. V. Ladd.
Matron-Miss A. G. Twitchell.
Male Supervisory. X. Luce.
Assistant. @. Sanford.
Female Supervisor-Miss Ruth l.. Bowden.
Assistant-Mss Fannie Meserve.
Gardener-W. III. Allen.
Head Farmer Horace b. Cony.
Chas. A. Fletcher Is now doing special
work in opening new sets of books.
Beside these are the trustees who have the
supervision of all, and direct the course Of
events. These are j. w. Weymouth, Old
town DIR. 4. Thompson, Dover; j. III. Man
ley. Augusta; DR. Dearborn, Parsonsheld;
ID. o. Bowen, Morrill, and Mrs. H.. +. Tor
sey, Kent's Hill. 1t was our good fortune to
be in the kitchen when the large trays for
each dining hall were filed and lowered on
the elevator to the underground railway,
there to be carried to the proper place and
then up to the tables where the patients
were waiting their arrival Every one in
all the buildings. save perhaps a few sick
ones supplied with special diet, sat down to
a dinner of roast turkey an chickens, pota-
toes, squash, onions, mince pie, coffee and
tea, together with good b GA and butter.
Surely no one need complain at such fare.